Question about reinstalling Windows XP

[Epsilon]

Okay, I'm not good with OS stuff, but here's my situation. For some reason, my Windows interface is messed up. On some windows, the text comes up like in System font and bold and big, when I have it setup so that it won't on the Appearance settings. So, I'm thinking I might as well reinstall Windows to get rid of that, as I have no idea what's causing it. However, if I reinstall Windows, will I lose all my files? If so, is there some way to not delete certain files (like my roms and osts)? Also, is there some other solution to this interface problem? Ty to whoever helps me.

[Nel]

I'm not sure whether reinstall the windows will cause you lossing any files or not... but if you really worry about your files, you can always back up them~~

Geezz.. I still remember I let a technician to fix my pc and he failed to back up my files.. what worst he can't retrieve them back and at the end I got them back by MYSELF. Back up is important. :

[Epsilon]

Hmmm, well I don't think I can backup my files. I've got like 44gb of stuff to back up.

Well, maybe I can show you what the problem is. Here are two pics of the "interface prob".





The big black font seen in the first pic is on MP3 Tag Tools. It's so big that not all of the content is seen in the window. Before, it was not like this.
This is also seen on the second pic, which is of Winamp. It was not like this before as well.

The weird thing is that not all programs are affected by this. Here's another pic of a program that isn't affected by it.



In the pic of CuteFTP, you see the font is normal, which is how it was before in Winamp and MP3 Tag Tools.

Weird, huh.

[MegaVolt]

1) Windows XP will allow you to make two kind of installation:
Clear Install which deletes your current windows settings or Upgrade??
which save your current settings.
If you choose the second one files on your HD won't be deleted.
(move any necesarry files from "system dirs" <-My documents and
any other to different prepared folder because those might be deleted
but I'm not sure)

2) Those errors looks like Windows XP GUI misconfiguration due to some
programs installed or any other crap.
(yes XP is a piece of crap...sad but true )
I don't remember if it's the same as in W98 but you may set the size of the
fonts and other things from "Desktop->Properties" (rightclick on desktop )
there you'll have a tab for GUI windows appearance settings...

Maybe this'll help.
And remember don't reinstall until you're sure you cannot do anything.
PS: Names of functions and Installation methods may vary cause I don't
have English version of Windows.

[polobunny]

There's a system font missing, so windows is using the default bitmap font. The only thing you need to do is check if all your fonts are there. You can easily do that by going into C:\windows\fonts and check if Tahoma and MS Sans Serif are there. Also you might wanna check for common ones (as it seems only to affect certain part of programs and not whole windows).

You can also re-instlal directly on top of windows xp, which wil not loose your settings but you might need to redo updates.
So finally, the easiest way is to copy-paste fonts from another same language windows xp installation. I can't help you there, I have tons of uncommon fonts and my windows xp is in french.

Edit: BTW, these are the needed fonts in windows xp, someone might help you there.
_____________
Courier New (TrueType, including Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic variations)
Arial (TrueType, including Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic variations)
Times New Roman (TrueType, including Bold, Italic, and Bold Italic variations)
Symbol (TrueType)
Wingdings (TrueType)
MS Serif
MS Sans Serif

[Epsilon]

Ty Megavolt and polobunny. I'll try the font thingy and see if ti works. ty again.

[Xaenn]

Regardless of whether or not that is the problem, if you end up reinstalling windows, create two partitions. One for your system and one for your data. That way you can reinstall windows without losing your data.

[polobunny]

If no font is missing, it's probably a small thing with the registry. Just reply and i'll explain further, and make a reg patch for it.

[Epsilon]

If no font is missing, it's probably a small thing with the registry. Just reply and i'll explain further, and make a reg patch for it.

Actually, I added in the fonts that were missing and it works fine now! THANX!

[Nel]

Forgive me asking some silly question.. How to make two partitions??